Private Tour Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Memphis, Saqqara and Camel Ride

What an amazing day trip with our guide, Ehab and driver, Hussein. October was a great time to visit because the temperature had just dropped 10%. Ehab reached out beforehand to arrange when and where to meet us, and was very up front and honest about the costs of the tickets we would need. He was also very careful about explaining the itinerary and what would happen next. Hussein is an excellent driver and got us to the Saqqara archaeological site first. None of us were prepared for the immense size of the stonework we were about it see. Like most of Egypt, the government continues to uncover and restore new locations, so everywhere is a work in progress. Ehab did a wonderful job describing the glyphs and purpose of each aspect of the many statues and columns. From there to the Step Pyramid where the day started to heat up. I chose a very light long-sleeved shirt, light hiking pants, breathable sandals (Chacos), and a wide-brimmed sun hat to protect my pale skin. I cannot imagine slogging through in jeans or constantly reapplying sunscreen on bare legs and necks, but your mileage may vary. Lunch was a kind of disappointing buffet. Overdone kofta and chicken served to you near a buffet of bland toppings to add to stale pitas. It was so busy with tourist buses coming in that I didn’t enjoy it. The waiter also implied I should tip for him bringing us sodas. I declined, but a kid got me at the sink of the bathroom, so it guess it worked out. The last stop was the Great Pyramid at Giza. Incredible. Ehab knew every corner and was always showing us different aspects of the tomb. You can’t get very close to the Sphinx but it is also enormous. I would say that many reviews do not mention the stops we took at local shops. These are filled with tourists but not what I would call “tourist traps”, since the Ministry of Tourism enforces a rule (or we just happen to only visit shops) that disallow pushy sales. It was interesting to see how a cotton carpet or papyrus is made and I felt fine accepting their hospitality and declining to buy at the end. If you’re like me and don’t like to be in situations involving sales or negotiation unprepared, this is my call to give it a try and stay positive! The cotton clothing shop was the only one where I felt like we were just there to “spend money”, as opposed to enjoying ourselves (while spending money). 5 stars would do again. Ask Hesham for Ehab! He made the day unforgettable.

Our airport pickup was so smooth and easy. Our flight was delayed and baggage claim took longer than expected, Ehab was very patient waiting for us. He kept reaching out and making sure we were ok. On the way to our hotel he gave us a tour of Cairo.

Anytime you want a transfer, call these guys. Get you there in comfort and fast. I don’t know any faster way to get there.